(CNN) - Sarah Palin will be the main attraction at what's being billed as the "First National Tea Party Convention."

Tea Party Nation announced Wednesday that last year's Republican vice presidential candidate will serve as keynote speaker for the conference, scheduled to take place in Nashville, Tennessee February 4-6. A representative for Palin has confirmed the former Alaska governor's speaking role at the gathering.

The group also announced that Rep. Michele Bachmann will be speaking at the gathering as well. The Minnesota Republican has become a hero among many in the conservative movement. A representative for Bachmann confirms her speaking role.

The event could focus the political spotlight on both women. Bachmann has become a rising star, her ascent fueled in part by major support from Tea Party activists. For Palin - currently taking a brief Thanksgiving break from a national tour for her new book, "Going Rogue: An American Life" - serving as headliner at a tea party convention could increase speculation that she is weighing a run for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Judson Phillips, a spokesman for Tea Party Nation, says the group is talking with other high-profile political leaders about possible convention roles, though he wouldn't name any names.

"(T)he convention is aimed at bringing the Tea Party Movement together from around the nation for the purpose of networking and supporting the movements' multiple organizations (sic) principle goals," according to a statement from the group.

Phillips says the conference will feature workshops, seminars, information centers, and organizational tools for leaders to take back to their respective local tea party organizations. He adds that the Republican Party is not coordinating or organizing with Tea Party Nation in any way.

Phillips says Tea Party Nation was launched in April, just before the first tea parties were held across the country on tax deadline day, and that the group held rallies in Nashville and in other parts of Tennessee on April 15. He added that Tea Party Nation also organized a smaller tea party event in early July, when a second round of events were held around the nation, but did not take part in the two cross-country tea party caravans held the past few months.

A spokesman for the Tea Party Express, which organized those two cross country tea party caravans, says they are not currently involved in the organization of the convention, but that they are supportive of the gathering's goals.

soundoff(181 Responses)

Mike, Albany

well this is truly indicative of the dumbing down of America: Two of America's most ignorant, hate-filled, bile-spewing, dangerous women given prominent speaking slots at a convention whose sole agenda has nothing to do with the apparently bogus Republican campaign slogan "Country First". Consider this, together with doctored pictures of the First Lady and all of the other dangerous propaganda coming from the far right, and I see my country today as a source for nothing other than shame. Way to go, America!

November 25, 2009 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |

Mike

These people are loony - How quickly they forget that this major recession started under their leader George W. He started the major bank bailouts,TARP,auto, etc...Where were they for the last 8 years??? The right wingers are truly hypocrites!!!

November 25, 2009 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |

Donatella

This should be billed as the event of the century, 2 nut cases as key note speakers, I can't wait!!!!

November 25, 2009 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |

Jack in Florida

Can't wait to see which one comes off smarter...........Mark my calendar to avoid the nut jobs in Nashville Feb 4-6.

November 25, 2009 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |

alix-ny

Would be great too see the two hate mongers head up a Republican ticket in 2012.

November 25, 2009 02:38 pm at 2:38 pm |

haren

This president is building nation but it is our nation.
We will have Health care,financial regulation,energy policy, education and the most important USA's standing in the world.

He is mopping up the mess which two Bush and Reagan created and it will take a while before we can create a healthy consumer oriented economy instead of speculative economy of wall street.

Now republican started another issue about climate change and stupid fox news watchers believe that it is hoax, I would suggest them to subscribe National geographic magazine to get educated.

November 25, 2009 02:38 pm at 2:38 pm |

voter

is this news? I believe cnn made a mistake in the title. It is not the tea party convention, but the RNC conference. Didn't the RNC announce they don't want moderates, but only radicals according to the purity pledge?

November 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

RO

Perfect company for each other~ yikes

November 25, 2009 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Dizzy Man

I wanna attend.

November 25, 2009 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

usa99

Have you Palin haters seen the polls lately? Bad news for you. Palin is within 5-7 points of Obama in approval numbers. His numbers are in a free fall and her poll numbers are climbing. What does that mean for 2012 if she decides to run for Prez? You do the math. Should mean another historic election for the country...

The Tea Baggers are so fortunate to have these two geniuses leading them.

November 25, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

marcus

Funny...

Isn't this the party of those who started to revolt against deficit spending at the very moment the country elected a Democratic President, but not during the last 8 years when a Republican was in the White House?

November 25, 2009 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

Right wingnuts are the darlings of dementia

I heard the they are going to make a film, "Going Rogue." Whoopie Goldberg will be playing Sarah.

November 25, 2009 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

cay

Terrific team. I may just have to go now. These two women are very important and influential going into the future of America. They are very brave to do what they are doing. Its a shame that in this day and age women have to be brave in order to serve their country as a civil servant. It says so much about our society.

November 25, 2009 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |

Steven

The tea party movement does not need this type of publicity, go home Palin!

November 25, 2009 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |

cnn=right wing media and works for sarah "death pannel" palin

bye bye to centrist like me. I'll never vote for an extremist

November 25, 2009 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

Melissa

This is incredibly stupid. People, grow up please. Stop humiliating yourself and the memory of the first Tea Party. The first Tea Party didn't stand for this stuff.

dumb and dumber together...well maybe not..does anyone really expect both of them to be able to find nashville?

November 25, 2009 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |

Andrew R.

Sarah Palin is a joke, she has signed more books in 5 minutes then she has read in her entire life...and people think she is qualified to be President? She can't even spell "President" much less "conservatism" or "economics".

November 25, 2009 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm |

Brian mesaAZ

This should really be interesting – NOT!

Having listened to these two and know they are the hero's of the "tea party" makes me want to stay as far away from the "tea party" as possible. The only good thing the "tea party" will accomplish is the break up the the republican party.

The republicans think they have a chance to take back the house – I think not. It did not work to welll in the 23rd district of NY.